stic
approval.

"I think it would be a charity to let the Dalton boys come to
something," declared Sarah Ford. "If we leave them out all the time,
by and by, when we want someone to take us home on a dark night--"

"When you stay chinning too long with Roberta," interrupted a girl who
knew Sarah's weakness for "dragging along the way."

"Well, you may be out in the dark some time yourself, Nettie, and it is
very nice to have--"

"A very nice boy--"

"Order! Order!" called the chairman. "We have voted to invite them
and--"

"It's up to them," persisted Nettie Niles, who, next to Tavia Travers,
had the reputation and privilege of using more slang than any other
well-bred girl in Dalton.

"It is to be a lawn party then," declared the chairman, with befitting
dignity. "And we have only one day to arrange the whole thing."

"I'll collect the boys," volunteered the irrepressible Nettie.

"Then you are appointed a committee of one to invite all the nice boys
in the first class," said Alice, much to the surprise of the joker.

"And not any other?" pouted Nettie. "If I should run across a real
nice little fellow, with light curly hair, and pale pink cheeks,
and--and--"

"New tennis suit," suggested someone, who had seen Nettie walking home
with a boy of the tennis-suit description.

"Oh, yes," agreed the chairman, "I forgot to include Charlie. He is
not now at Dalton school, but of course, Nettie, you may invite
Charlie."

"Thanks," said Nettie, determined not to be abashed by the teasing.

"We will have cake and lemonade," proposed May Egner.

"I'm glad I only have to bring boys," said Nettie aside, "I couldn't
bake a cake to save me."

"And I'll bring a whole pan of fresh taffy," volunteered Sarah.

"Put me down for two dozen lemons," offered May Egner, who seemed to
think the entire success of a lawn party depended upon the refreshing
lemonade.

"Where shall we have it?" asked Alice.

The girls glanced around at the splendid lawn upon which the little
meeting was being held. It was the MacAllister place, and had the
reputation of being well-kept besides affording a recreation ground for
the family--the secret of the combination lay in the extent of the
grounds: they might be walked upon, but were never trampled upon. Mr.
MacAllister made it a rule that games should be kept to their
restricted provinces, as the tennis court and croquet grounds: other
games should never be indulged in on the ra